Clasp or the like



June 8, 1937. M. BELLOCH 2,032,933. r v V CLAS? OR THE LIKE I Filed Nov 2; 1955 Final.

' INVENTOR Morris Belloc h 3M 2 M iATTORNEY Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to clasps, or the like, and methods of making the same, and is more particularly directed toward the provision of an inexpensive form of clasp having a spring 5 back for securing it in place.

It is common to have clasps provided with ornamental front plates and hinged back plates urged toward the front plate by spring means so as to grip the fabric on which the clasp is placed, and the present invention relates to improvements in clasps of this type.

As heretofore made, the front plates have been, cast in permanent molds to have an ornamental front face and outline and a smooth back face. The hinged back plates and spring means (integral with the back plate or separate therefrom) are customarily assembled with small anchorage plates adapted to be soldered to the back face of the front plate. This soldering operation requires considerable skill, as the slightest movement while the solder is cooling destroys the bond between the parts. The heating of the front plate by the torch discolors the metal and traces of acid remain on the article so that it is necessary to restore the naturalcolor to the metal and clean off the acid. This is generally done by a tumbling operation.

According to the present invention, the soldering step is eliminated, as well as the use of acid and heat, so that it is not necessary to tumble or clean the castings.

The present invention contemplates providing each casting with a rearwardly extending lug that carries pivot pins preferably in the form of an imbedded piece of steel or brass wire. The back plate is pivoted directly on these pins and is preferably provided with an integral spring finger bearing on the lug so as to press the two plates together.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, one of the many embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating the two parts ofthe clasp separated;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the clasp being in closed position.

The front plate I0 is cast in the usual way in permanent molds. It can have any ornamental shape or configuration and is here shown as provided with a rearwardly extending lug ll integral with the plate. A rod or wire I2, preferably of brass or steel, is placed in the mold cavity so as to be imbedded in the lug II when the lug is formed, the ends of the wire protruding as shown in the drawing.

The back plate I4 is made in the form of a sheet metal stamping of suitable shape and size for the purpose. It has one rearwardly extending lug l5 formed at right angles to the body of the stamping and another similar lug l6 which is not bent all the way to the right-angle position. This is clear from Fig. 2. The lugs have aligned apertures II.

The stamping I4 is also provided with an integral spring tongue is adapted to bear on the extension IQ of the lug II. In assembling the two metal parts together, they are first held at approximately the position indicated in Fig. 1. The lug I5 is placed on the rear or left end of the wire rod I2. The lug I6 is brought opposite the other end of the rod l2, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the lug it then bent to the dotted line position of Fig. 2-. This completes the assembly, and when the back plate I4 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 3, the spring finger l8 engages the lug I9 so as to press the free ends of the front and back plates toward one another.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scope of the claim, and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

In a clasp, or the like, a body portion provided with an integral rearwardly extending lug having oppositely extending pivot pins spaced from the rear face of the body portion, and a movable member hinged on said pins, said member having a spring tongue bearing on the lug for pressing the free end of the member against the rear face of the body portion, the body portion being in the form of a casting of low melting point metal and the pivot pins being at the ends of an embedded hard metal rod.

MORRIS BELLOCH. 

